Coming from an ethnic background, I’ve been the subject of the odd racial slur, but it has never bothered me because I’m big enough and ugly enough to look after myself. I also identify as 100% Australian, so I find any racism directed my way a bit misplaced. Some of my older relatives however were subjected to real racism in their early years in this country, but overall, we’ve evolved beyond that and have become a truly cosmopolitan nation.

Having said that, racism in any form is disgraceful and we should all call it out and stamp it out when and where we see it. And that’s why it’s so infuriating when the privileged few play the racism card to distract from their own bad behaviour.

That’s why I’m angry about this William bloke from some American band carrying on like a pork chop on a recent Qantas flight. As grownups, we have to own our own behaviour and if we act like spoilt brats, then people like flight attendants will treat us as such. 

Now, I wasn’t on this flight so I can only go by what I read, but what I’m reading between the lines is that old mate was asked to switch his laptop off before landing and refused, so he was given short shrift. As far as I can tell, he wasn’t treated badly because he’s African-American, but because he’s an entitled dickhead.

Now, after internationally naming and shaming the poor flight attendant who has very strict rules by which she has to abide, claiming that she was targeting “people of colour” on the flight, he now says he had noise cancelling headphones on and couldn’t hear her.

I don’t fly much. Pretty much, once a year. But even I know there are rules as to what you can and can’t do on a plane and the people who walk up and down the aisle attending to pain in the arse passengers are the ones who enforce those rules.

Good on Qantas for backing their employee and offering to help her sue this clown for defamation. It sounds like he needs to come down a peg or two.